Street-railway-curve sweeper and oiler



N0. 6|7,420. Patented Jan. l0, I899. e. HUFF.

STREET RAILWAY CURVE SWEEPER AND 0lLER.

(Application filgd 0011.13, 1897.) (No Model.) 7 3 Sheets-$heet L A ma sn1: scams Prrzns 00.. PHQYO-LITHOU WASHINGTON, n. c.

No..6l7,420. 'Paten t e d lih.-l0,l899.

- G .HUFF.

STREET RAILWAY CURVE SWEEPER AND OIL ER. (Application filed cup. 13,1897.) (N0 Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2M W sea i h 8WW INN-IN PatentedIan.- l0, I899;

No. 6l7,420.

e. HUFF, STREET RAILWAY CURVE SWEEPER AND OILER.

(Appliction filed Oct. 13, 1897.) v

(No Model.)

m: ucnms wzrzns 00.. Puovauma. WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

GEORGE HUFF, OF TROlICO, CALIFORNIA.

STREET- RAlLWAY-CURVE SWEEPER AND OILER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,420, dated January10, 1899.

Application filed October 13, 1897- Serial No. 655,075. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it 771/667] concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HUFF, a citizen of the United States,residing at Tropico, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented a new and useful Street-Railway-Gurve Sweeperand Oiler, of

. which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine by whichstreet-railway curves can be easily, quickly, andproperly swept andoiled while the vehicle which carries such machine is running around thecurve, and without the necessity of any stoppage at the curves, anddoing away with the necessity of any hand sweeping or oiling of thecurves.

An object of my invention is to provide the machine with a mainoil-carrying tank or reservoir which is not subjected to pressure and isreadily accessible for filling at any time, and to force the oil byair-pressure through the lubricating-nozzle without the necessity ofpumping any air, and also making provision for the storage underair-pressure of a sufficient quantity of the lubricating liquid for thepurpose of oiling one or more curves. I therefore provide anair-cushioned oil-tank with pipe from the oil-supply pump openingthereinto and pipe leading therefrom to the oiling-nozzle.

My invention comprises a track sweeper and oiler provided with areversible truck, which carries sweeping and oiling appliances, andmeans for lifting the truck to allow the same to be reversed on thetrack. The trackoiler is provided with an oiling-nozzle and with meansfor forcing the oil through the nozzle to throw it upon the guard-railof the track, and I provide means for adjusting the nozzle vertically toadapt it for guard-rails of different heights. The sweeping appliancehas a rotary brush mounted on a lever which is pivotally connected withsaid truck, and means are provided for holding the lever in a fixedposition. The rotary brush is driven by a wheel of the truck, andpreferably the lever of the brush is fulcrumed to a pivoted base, sothat the brush is adapted for lateral movement as well as verticalmovement. The truck is preferablyconnected with the frame by afifth-wheel, the upper member of which is adjustably connected with suchframe, the

truck being fixed to the under member of the fifth-wheel,and a draw-barconnects the-upper member of the fifth-wheel with the frame, suitablemeans-bein g provided for locking the two members of the fifth-wheelagainst rotating with relation to each other when the ap-" paratus ismoving along the track, but allowing the parts to be unlocked, so thatthe truck can be reversed when desired.

My invention includes other features, combinations, and partshereinafter described and claimed. V

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure l is a side elevation of apparatus embodying my invention andshows my newlyinvented street-railway-curve sweeper and oiler ready foroperation, the ends of the frame and roof of the car being broken forlack of space. Dotted lines show the position of parts when theoiler-truck is raised. Fig. 2 is a fragmental detail of the same on anenlarged scale. The front pair of framecarrying wheels is omitted forlack of space. The track-rail is broken away in part to fully show theoiler-nozzle and sweeperbrush. The oil-tank A is sectioned to show theair-chamber a. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the detail shown in Fig.2. Fig. his a plan of the detail shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Fig. 5 is afragmental sectional detail showing the construction of the rotarybrush. Fig. 6 is a fragmental sectional detail. Line 6 6, Fig. 4,indicates the line of section.

A indicates an air-cushioned oil-tank with compressed-air chamber atherein. B B indicate suitable means for forcing oil into such tank, and0 indicates a lubricating-nozzle connected with the tank to deliver oilthere from onto the track when the oiler is allowed F indicates a brushand oiler carrying truck which carries the oiler-nozzle C and a sweeping rotary brush G.

The guard-rails Z of the track to be oiled are always on the inner sideof the curve, and in order to sweep and oil both right and left curvesthe truck is provided with two complete and independent sweeping andoiling appliances. ing parts of the right and left sweeping and oilingappliances are marked with like letters, those of the right beingdistinguished from those of the left by suitable indices. Suitable meansare provided for adjustably connecting the truck F to the wheel-carriedframe.

H indicates a truck-supporting bar which is connected with the truck bysuitable means, such as the arms 7L and links 7t, and the bar isslidably connected with the frame D to slide to and fro thereacross,thus to allow the brush and oiler truck to shift crosswise the frame tofollow the curve in the track between the rear and front frame-carryingwheels (I (1 when the frame is going around a curve. Antifrictiongrooved rollers 'i are provided to sustain the bar and allow it to slidetransverse the frame D.

J indicates a draw-bar which connects the truck F with the frame throughthe axle c it being swiveled and journaled to the framecarrying axle dby the eye j and the pivotbolt j.

In order to use the apparatus with either end of the wheel-carried frameforemost, it is necessary to reverse the sweeping apparatus, so that thebrushes can be thrown in front whichever way the car moves, and for thispurpose the draw-bar J is connected with the axle f of the truck F bymeans of a fifthwheel K, which is pivoted to the axle of the truck by aking-bolt 7;, which passes through the fifth-wheel and the axle f. Theupper plate 71: of the fifth-wheel is rigid with the draw-bar and thelower plate f is fixed to the axle f. The fifth-wheel is normallyprevented from turning by means of one or more pins k, which passthrough the two plates of the fifth-wheel, but can be withdrawn, thus tounlock the fifth-wheel and allow it to turn.

0 indicates a valve operated by alever c to control or cut off the flowof oil through the nozzle 0.

0" indicates a ratchet-lever for raising and lowering the pipe andnozzle 0 to fit the same to guard-rails of different heights.

The brushes G G are respectively carried by levers L L, which arefulcrumed to the truck F. Z Z indicate the pivots of such fulcrums,respectively.

M indicates a sprocket-chain driven by a sprocket-wheel N and led over asprocketwheel g, which is connected with the axle g of the rotary brushG to drive such brush.

The levers L L operate independently of each other and are held inposition by segmental ra-cks O with pawls O. The sprocket- In thedrawings the correspondwheels N N are driven by power from thetruck-wheels f f by means of spur-wheels P P, fixed to the said wheel fand a spurwheel Q, fixed to the axle n of sprocket-wheel N and gearedwith the wheel P. By this arrangement the advance of the truck causesthe brush when in gear to rotate in a direction opposite to that of thewheels of the truck.

R indicates a ratchet-clutch connecting and disconnecting thesprocket-wheel N with its shaft n to cause the wheel to rotate or not,as may be required.

Only one of the brushes will ever need to be in operation at the sametime, and when not in use either or both of the brushes will be carriedelevated away from the track and guard-rail. hen one of the brushes isin use, the other will be raised, as indicated at the right in Fig. 3and also shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When thus elevated, the clutch R willbe disconnected, so that the sprocketwheel N and the brush will notrotate. It is obvious that the clutch R can be located at any effectiveplace Without departing from the invention.

The brush-carrying levers L L are respectively mounted upon pivotedbases 12 12', which are respectively pivoted to the axleplate f bypivot-bolts 13. (See Fig. 6.)

14 14: indicate levers with ratchet to hold the turning bases in thedesired position. The levers L L, however, may be made stationary andtheir brushes adapted to sweep a curve of average degree. The brush willnot require to be moved to any great extent in order to fit thetrack-curves of different degrees.

I regard my invention as including the 001m bination, with theoiler-truck, of the brush G for sweeping the space between the guardrailand the rail,whether said brush be made adjustable or not.

The brush-Wheel G is preferably formed of a circular main body 2, (seeFig. 5,) having brush-receiving cavities 3 4 therein at intervals,staggered around the rim of the wheel. Bundles of wires 5 6 are mountedin the cavities and slant toward the mid-plane of the wheel and areclamped in place by rings 7 8, which are provided with cavities 3 4:corresponding to the cavities in the main body, so that when the ringsare in place the cavities in the main body 2 and those in the rings formthe sockets for the bundles of wires which form the brushes of thewheel.

The pump for forcing oil into the tank A is preferably driven from oneof the axles of the wheels which carry the frame D.

9 indicates a cog-wheel fixed 011 the axle cl, which connects androtates with the wheels d, and 10 indicates a cog-wheel geared therewithand which drives the piston of the pump 13.

S indicates an oil -tank from which the pump draws the oil to drive itinto the pres sure-chamber A.

T T, the. indicate flexible pi pcs for conveying the oil. The pipe Tleads from the oiltank S to the pump B, and the pipe T leads from thepump B to the air-cushioned oiltank A, into which a sufficient charge ofoil can be forced to oil oneor more curves, as may be desired. The pipeT leads from the air-cushioned oil-tank and receives its supply of oiltherefrom to be discharged through its oiling-nozzle.

indicates a check-valve on the supply oilpipe T, and 75 indicates acheck-valve on the oil-pipe T, so that the tank S is simply a reservoirinto which the oil can be poured at any time, while the charge availablefor oiling the curves is constantly under air-pressure in theair-cushioned oil-tank A.

(6 indicates the air-chamber, in which is contained the compressed-aircushion. The check-valves keep the oil from receding from theair-pressure and also answer for feeding the pump-cylinder proper. Asthe pumppiston draws oil from the oil-supply tank S the valve i opens toallow the oil a free flow and the valve 25 closes to prevent any oilfrom passing out of the air-cushioned oil-tank A, and when the pistondrives the oil outfrom the cylinder the valve i closes and the valve '15opens, allowing the oil to be forced-into the air-cushioned oil-tank A.a

0 indicates a coupling for coupling the flexible pipes or hose T withthe nozzle 0.

In practice the car constituted of the wheel carried frame D, the wheelsand the truck F, and operative mechanisms above described will bepreferably driven by the same power which drives the cars of thestreet-railway to which it is applied.

U indicates a trolley-pole, a fragment of which is shown in Fig. 1, suchpole being for the purpose of conveying electricity for driving themotor, which is indicated in Fig. 1 by V. Preferably the handle of thecommutator V will be placed within reach of the operator, who will siton a seat X,from which place he can reach and control the variouslevers.

In practice the car will be run along the track, and excepting at thecurves the brushes will be thrown up out of contact with the track andthe oiler-valve will be closed. The pumping apparatus will be allowed tooperate until a suitable pressure is shown by the gage Y on the pressureoil-tank. The pressure can be sufficient to throw upon the trackguardrail Z asutticient quantity of oil to oil the same thoroughlyduring the short space of time in which the oiler will be moving aroundthe curve. by the operator, as it depends upon the size of the nozzle,fluidity of the oil, and other conditions which must be taken note of inoperating this appliance and which any skilful' workman will readilyobserve. When a curve has been reached, the operator will lower theappropriate brush, depending on whether the curve is a right or a leftcurve, bringing the brush low enough to enterthe groove between Thispressure can best be determined the guard-rail and the rail. \Vhen thecar shall pass around the curve and at or before the moment the oilerreaches the curve, the operator will open the valve to'allow oil to bethrown through the nozzle as the apparatus passes around the curve. henthe curve is passed, the nozzle-valve a will be again closed, the rotarybrush be raised, and the apparatus run free to the next curve, and the.

operation will be repeated from time to time and with the appropriatebrush and oil-nozzle as the different curves are passed.

15 indicates a clutch for connecting and disconnecting the pumpingapparatus and its driving mechanism. 16 indicates the lever foroperating such clutch.

In case the curves are a considerable dis tance apart the operator,instead of allowing the oiler-truck to run upon the track, will depressthe lever h of the rocking-bar, and thus raise the wheels of the truck Fclear of the track until the nextcnrve approaches. Then the truck can belowered again to the track to accomplish the-oiling of such curve.

At the end of the track the truck will be lifted by depressing the lever71. The pins 7t" will be removed and the pipe-couplings c disconnectedfrom the nozzles, thus allowing the oiler-truck to be turned around tobring the brushes into the reverse position, so that they will be infront when the car runs back over the track, thus allowing the apparatusto be turned independently of the use of any turn-table in the track.Then the truck has been reversed, the oil-pipes will be coupled tosupply oil to the nozzles, and the apparatus will again be ready foroperation.

X indicates a seat-socket in the top member of the fifth-wheel, which isrigidly fixed to the draw-bar J, and the seat-support will be drawn outof the socket and reversed for use when the apparatus is run in theopposite direction. v

The pump B which I have shown is an oscillating pump carried by the pin1), and the pipes T T are flexible to permit the oscillations of thepump 13. It is to be understood, however, that any form of pump may beused without departing from my invention.

In passing around a curve the oiler-carrying truck will be pushedsidewise by the curved rails, and the sliding bar I-I allows sufficientlateral motion to avoid any binding between the several trucks and thetrack. 1 Now, having described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a wheel-carried Joe IIO

frame independent of the truck, of an aircushioned oil-tank; means forforcing oil from a source of oil-supply into such tank; alubricating-nozzle connected with the tank to deliver oil therefrom ontothe side of a guardrail; and a valve to control and cut off the flow ofoil from the nozzle.

2. The combination of a wheel carried frame; an air-cushioned oil-tank5an oil-supply tank; a pump for forcing oil from the supply-tank into theair-cushioned tank and driven from the wheels which carry the frame; anda lubricating-nozzle connected with the air-cushioned tank to deliveroil therefrom.

3. The combination of a wheel carried frame; an air-cushioned oil-tankan oil-supply tank; means for forcing oil from the supply-tank into theair-cushioned tank; and a lubricatingnozzle connected With theaircushioned tank and arranged to follow along the rail upon which thewheels run to deliver oil onto a rail of the track.

l. The combination of a wheel carried frame; an oil-tank withcompressed-ai r chamber; a pump for forcing oil into the chamber anddriven from the wheels which carry the frame; a guide to make the nozzlefollow along the rail upon which the wheels run; and a nozzle fastenedto the guide and connected with the oil-tank to deliver oil therefrom.

5. The combination of the wheel-carried frame; abrush-and-oiler-carrying truck; and means adj ustably connecting thetruck to the frame, and arranged to allow the truck to move transverseto the frame.

0. The combination of the wheel-carried frame; a truck between thewheels of the frame; a truck-supporting bar connected with the truck andarranged to slide transverse the frame; and a draw-bar connecting thetruck with the frame.

7. The combination of the wheel-carried frame; a truck between thewheels of the frame; a truck-supporting rocking bar arranged to slidetransverse the frame; and a fifth-wheel carried by the arms of suchrocking bar and pivoted to the truck.

8. The combination of the wheel-carried frame; a truck between thewheels of the frame; a truck-supporting rocking bar arranged to slidetransverse the frame; a fifthwheel carried by the arms of such rockingbar and pivoted to the truck; and means for preventing the fifth-wheelfrom turning.

9. The combination of the wheel-carried frame; a truck between thewheels of such frame and provided with a forwardly-extending rotarybrush; means connecting the rotary brush with the wheel of the truck fordriving the brush; means connecting the the truck to allow the same tobe reversed onv the track.

11. The combination with a truck, of the rotary brush mounted in a leverpivotally connected with said truck to move vertically and laterally;and means for holding the lever in a fixed position.

12. The combination of the wheel-carried frame; a rocking bar mounted onsuch frame and provided with a lever for turning the rocking bar; atruck provided with a fifth- Wheel adj ustably connected with saidframe; and links connecting the upper plate of the fifth-wheel with thearms of the rocking bar.

18. The combination of a wheel carried frame; a truck adj ustablyconnected with such frame; and a rotary brush driven by a wheel of suchtruck and connected with such truck by a lever which admits of theraising and lowering of the brush.

14. A track-cleaner provided with a rotary brush carried by a leverfulcrumed to a pivoted base.

15. The combination of the wheel-carried frame; a fifth-wheel the uppermember of which is adj ustably connected with such frame; a truckfastened to the under member of the fifth-wheel; a draw-bar connectingthe upper member of the fifth-wheel with the frame; and means to lockthe two members of the fifth-Wheel against rotating with relation toeach other.

16. A brush for a track-cleaner comprising a circular main body havingbrush-receiving cavities therein around the rim of the wheel; bundles ofwires which are mounted in the cavities and slant toward the mid-planeof the wheel; and rings which are provided with cavities correspondingto the cavities of the main body, and fastened to the main body to clampthe bundles of wires in the sockets formed by said cavities.

GEORGE HUFF.

\Vitnesses:

JAMES R. TOWNSEND, F. M. TowNsENn.

